Aug 2024
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Lava-sculpted landscapes. Legendary history. Uniquely unbothered creatures. The Galápagos Islands are a veritable paradise for both adventure and animal lovers alike. Lindblad Expeditions has been bringing travelers to this famed archipelago for more than 50 years and it never gets old. In fact, it seems the only way to leave these islands disappointed is to take too short a trip.
Here, we’ll draw on our decades of experience to help you determine how long to spend in Galápagos, sharing itinerary examples for a wide range of expedition lengths and more tips for planning your dream Galápagos vacation.
How Many Days Do You Need to Explore the Galápagos Islands?
To get the most out of your Galápagos tour, plan to visit for 7-8 days. You’ll spend at least half a day on each end flying from and returning to mainland Ecuador, so a weeklong cruise might only be out in the islands for a total of 6 days.
If your schedule and budget are more flexible, a 10-day trip is even more ideal to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the archipelago’s magic.
Thanks to its location on the equator, Galápagos is a year-round destination, so you won’t be limited to any particular season when planning.
How Many Days in the Galápagos Are the Minimum?
If you’re already spending the time and money to travel to this remote archipelago, it’s worth visiting for no less than four days. It’s certainly possible to stay on one of the inhabited islands for less time and even to encounter a few endemic species there. However, the grandeur of the Galápagos is found in its immense biodiversity, which requires visits to a variety of island ecosystems to experience in full.
How Many Days Should I Spend in the Galápagos if I Want to See Every Island?
First, it’s important to note that only 19 of the archipelago’s islands and islets are open to tourism, so it’s not possible to see every single one. Some islands—Wolf, Darwin, Pinta, and Marchesa, for example—don’t have terrestrial landing sites, but there are marine dive sites off the coast.
Taking this into account, you’ll need at least two weeks to see all of the major islands. Due to National Park regulations, vessels are only allowed to call at each visitor site once in a two-week period to mitigate environmental stress. That means you may want to consider booking two consecutive weeklong cruises if you’re determined to visit the maximum number of islands.
Is a Galápagos Cruise the Best Way to See the Galápagos Islands?
Though land-based trips are rising in popularity, a ship-based adventure remains the most efficient and enjoyable way to experience Galápagos.
Cruises navigate between islands while you are eating or sleeping, so not a minute of your vacation time will be wasted getting from A to B. Plus, expedition ships can access the more remote visitor sites on islands like Fernandina, Genovesa, and Española.
From a conservation standpoint, cruises still come out on top over island hopping. As the need for tourism infrastructure continues to grow—even at a slow, careful pace—it disrupts the wild nature that makes the Galápagos so special.
Choosing a small expedition ship also reduces tourism impact compared to larger vessels, and some cruise lines, like Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, even invest in local conservation efforts to ensure the continued protection of the islands’ species and ecosystems.
Suggested Itineraries Based on How Long You’ll Be in the Galápagos
As mentioned, you likely won’t have control of which islands your cruise sails to but below are some examples of what your Galápagos itinerary might look like.
Although choosing the landing sites won’t be up to you, choosing the day’s activities can be. So, make sure to consider a travel company like Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic that offers its guests an array of daily options—from kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding to photography walks, snorkeling or scuba diving excursions, and more.
Learn more about Gálapagos family vacations with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic
2-Day or 3-Day Galápagos Itinerary
A weekend trip to Galápagos is only feasible if you’re already traveling in South America and want to add it on. We recommend staying on either San Cristóbal or Santa Cruz, depending on where your flight lands. Then, you might still fit in a day trip to one of the nearby uninhabited islands.
2-Day or 3-Day Itinerary to Galápagos
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San Cristóbal - 2 days
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Española - ½ day
San Cristóbal was Charles Darwin’s first stop during his 1835 voyage. Make sure to see the Sea Lion Rookery, a coral sand beach not far from the airport. Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve is a great place to get up close to these gentle giants. There are also snorkeling sites like Kicker Rock where you can swim with sea turtles, manta rays, and sharks.
Sail south about two hours to Española to visit Gardner Bay, one of Galápagos’ most beautiful beaches and home to gregarious sea lion colonies, marine iguanas, and sally lightfoot crabs.
4-Day Galápagos Itinerary
For those who can’t make a longer trip work, but also can’t resist the call of the Enchanted Islands, a four-day cruise is the shortest sea voyage available to book.
4-Day Itinerary to Galápagos
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Baltra + Santa Cruz - 1 day
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Santiago - ½ day
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Genovesa - ½ day
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Rábida - ½ day
This itinerary stops at some of the islands with the most interesting volcanic geology, like the lava flows of Santiago’s Sullivan Bay, the ruby-red sand of Rábida, and the lava tunnels of the Santa Cruz highlands.
To take in the terrain from above, you’ll hike the steep, rocky path of Prince Phillip’s Steps on Genovesa for a marvelous view of the landscape and the seabirds nesting within its nooks and crannies.
Rábida is also known for its birdlife; look out for Galápagos vermilion flycatchers, Galápagos hawks, red-footed boobies, short-eared owls, and Darwin’s finches.
5-Day Galápagos Itinerary
In Galápagos, an extra day makes all the difference. This five-day cruise itinerary will give you four full days to experience the incredible biodiversity of six distinct ecosystems.
5-Day Itinerary to Galápagos
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Baltra and Santa Cruz - 1 day
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Santiago and Sombrero Chino Islet - 1 day
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Genovesa - 1 day
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Santa Fe - ½ day
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South Plaza - ½ day
Santa Cruz will kick off with giant tortoises and their iconic saddle-style shells. Santiago is prime sea lion territory, while the cove off Sombrero Chino is a known spot to swim alongside white-tipped reef sharks and Galápagos penguins—the only wild penguins found above the equator.
From there, head to Genovesa to witness the spectacular song and dance of male great frigatebirds during mating season. Santa Fe is one of the best places to spot the rare Galápagos hawk and South Plaza is one of few islands where you’ll see marine iguanas and land iguanas cohabitating.
7-Day Galápagos Itinerary
With more days you will see more islands, and therefore more diverse wildlife. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we recommend spending at least a week.
7-Day Itinerary to Galápagos
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San Cristóbal - 1 day
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Española - 1 day
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Floreana - 1 day
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Isabela - 1 day
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Bartolomé - ½ day
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Mosquera - ½ day
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Santa Cruz - 1 day
You’ll experience the best of the Galápagos on this trip that puts the islands’ more remote visitor sites within reach. Take, for example, the breathtaking beaches of Floreana’s Cormorant Point, one where the sand sparkles with olivine green crystals and another where it’s made of pulverized coral as soft and white as baking flour.
Highlights also include Pinnacle Rock’s panoramic view spanning Bartolomé and beyond, rose-colored lakes and lagoons frequented by flamingoes on Isabela, and coming face-to-face with wild giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz.
Related: Wild Galápagos Escape
8-Day or 9-Day Galápagos Itinerary
If you can tack an extra day or two onto a weeklong trip, the possibilities expand exponentially. This example itinerary tours the northern and western islands.
8-Day or 9-Day Itinerary to Galápagos
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Santa Cruz - 1½ day
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Genovesa - 1 day
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South Plaza - ½ day
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Santa Fe - ½ day
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Mosquera Islet - ½ day
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Santiago - ½ day
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Rábida - ½ day
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Isabela - 1½ days
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Fernandina - ½ day
This itinerary takes you to nine of the most memorable Galápagos islands and islets. Though you’ll meet many of the Galápagos’ most captivating fauna—from giant tortoises to blue-footed boobies—you’ll also get to see some of the archipelago’s most fascinating flora.
South Plaza’s shores are covered in sesuvium succulents, which turn from verdant green to red, orange, and purple during the dry season. On Santa Fe, wander a dense forest of giant opuntia cacti, a favored snack for the endemic Santa Fe land iguana.
Related: Wild Galápagos Escape
10-Day Galápagos Itinerary
On a 10-day journey, you’ll experience all that wildlife conservation and protection can accomplish in one of the world’s preeminent ecotourism destinations.
10-Day Itinerary to Galápagos
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Española - 1 day
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Floreana - 1 day
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Santa Cruz - 2 days
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Daphne Islet - ½ day
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Bartolomé - ½ day
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Sombrero Chino - ½ day
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Santiago - 1 day
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North Seymour - ½ day
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Rábida - ½ day
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Fernandina - ½ day
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Isabela - 1 day
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Santa Fe - ½ day
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San Cristóbal - ½ day
This trip starts off strong at the Galápagos’ southernmost island, Española. Here, isolation has led to a prolific number of endemic species, including the Española mockingbird, Española lava lizard, waved albatross, and the Española giant tortoise—which has made a heartwarming comeback from the brink of extinction through a successful breeding and repatriation program.
The underwater scene is no less thrilling. Ocean currents off the coast of Floreana create nutrient-dense marine life hotspots at Champion and Devil’s Crown and the upwelling Cromwell Current, chilling the waters off Fernandina and western Isabela and providing a wealth of nutrients for flightless cormorants and Galápagos penguins.
Related: Galápagos aboard National Geographic Endeavour II
12-Day Galápagos Itinerary
Many longer Galápagos tours are paired with excursions in Ecuador or Peru, like the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu. In this sample itinerary, the ancient cultures of Peru meet the natural treasures of Galápagos.
12-Day Itinerary to Galápagos
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Lima, Peru - 1 day
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Cusco - 2 days
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Machu Picchu - 1 day
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Guayaquil, Ecuador - 1 day
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Baltra - ½ day
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Bartolomé - ½ day
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South Plaza - ½ day
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North Seymour - ½ day
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San Cristóbal - 1 day
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Española - 1 day
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Floreana - 1 day
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Santa Cruz - ½ day
Galápagos alone is enough to renew your sense of awe, but this itinerary combines two world wonders that top many traveler’s bucket lists into one unforgettable adventure.
Make sure to pack your most comfortable hiking shoes. They need to take you up the steep stairs of the ancient Incan site of Machu Picchu; through cactus forests to search for endemic land iguanas; and over black-bubbled lava flows to get a closer look at the adorable antics of Galápagos penguins.
Related: Wild Galápagos and Peru Escape
Related: Ultimate Galápagos Holiday Voyage
14-Day Galápagos Itinerary
Have more time? Treat yourself to the ultimate Galápagos vacation by booking back-to-back voyages, where you’ll have a chance to set foot on nearly every island open to visitors.
14-Day Itinerary to Galápagos
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Santa Cruz - 1 day
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North Seymour - ½ day
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Rábida - ½ day
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Fernandina - 1 day
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Isabela - 2 days
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Santiago - ½ day
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Bartolomé - ½ day
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Santa Cruz - 1 day
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Floreana - 1 day
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Española - 1 day
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Santa Fe - day
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San Cristóbal - day
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South Plaza - ½ day
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Sombrero Chino - ½ day
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Genovesa - 1 day
On two consecutive journeys, seeing more is guaranteed because no single site in Galápagos National Park can be visited by the same ship more than once in two weeks, consecutive voyages call on different islands. Plus, you’ll spend more time sailing the productive waters prone to encounters with orcas, dolphins, and the rare ocean sunfish (Mola mola).
Additionally, more days will make room to take in the human history of the archipelago, too, like Isabela’s Wall of Tears, remnants of a penal colony, and Floreana’s Post Office Bay where you can “send” a stampless postcard as the 18th-century whalers did—or rummage through to find one addressed to your hometown to make the return journey back with you.
Related: Wild Galápagos Escape
Common Questions About Visiting the Galápagos Islands
If you’re thinking about a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to Darwin’s legendary islands you probably have lots more questions. Here are answers to just a few top questions travelers have as they go about planning a trip.
How Long Does It Take to Get from Ecuador to the Galápagos Islands?
To get to the Galápagos, you’ll need to fly approximately 600 miles from the coastal cities of Guayaquil or Quito. From Quito, the flight is roughly two and a half hours; from Guayaquil, it’s a bit shorter at just two hours. However, with the time change, you'll gain back an hour when you arrive in Galápagos.
How Long Does It Take to Get Between Islands?
It can take as little as 30 minutes and as long as several hours to navigate between islands by ship. On a liveaboard cruise, this navigation often occurs while guests eat or sleep so as not to lose a minute of precious exploration time.
If you’re doing a land-based trip, ferries that take you to and from inhabited islands average between two and two-and-a-half hours one-way, depending on sea conditions. There are limited inter-island flights that can shorten that transit time to 30 minutes, but they have strict limits for luggage, which must weigh less than 20 pounds.
How Long Should I Spend on Each Island While I’m in the Galápagos?
The amount of time spent on each island should be determined by many visitor sites are run by the National Park there. Some of the smaller uninhabited islands and islets like South Plaza and Bartolomé only have one designated site for disembarkation, usually a clearly marked trail that can take 2-3 hours to explore.
If you like, consider the larger islands—especially Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, and Isabela—candidates for a longer stay of 2-3 days.
Charles Darwin himself only spent five weeks in this enchanting archipelago, and it was enough time to inspire his groundbreaking theory of evolution through natural selection. What wonders might Galápagos bring forth in you?
